Coin-controlled vending machine



Ocii. 2Z 1929. B. SMITH 5 COIN CQNTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Goow w/v B. SM/TH,

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G. B. SMITH COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1925 -2 sneets-sneet 2 Illllllllllll III/111211111! V n I.

. be sold vary Patented Get. 22, 1929 GOODWIN B. SMITH, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Application filed November 5, 1925.

The invention relates to vending and sales machines and relates more particularly to vending machines of the automatic coin controlled cabinet type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled vending machine of the cabinet type consisting of a plurality of aligned containers controlled by a common coin controlled mechanism to permit any of said containers to be selectively actuated progressively to advance a series of articles containing compartments therein into alignment or registry with a door aperture.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a cabinet type vending machine comprising a plurality of aligned containers, each container having a-plurality of compartments from which the articles are designed to be dis-v charged by gravity when the coin controlled mechanism is actuated.

A further object is to provide a machine comprising a plurality of containers controlled by mechanism common wall of said containers, and in which each container p'referably carries within its compartments articles of the same character. The articles to as to each container and the range of selectivity is extended to any particular container. After a selected container is geared or otherwise mechanically connected to the common coin controlled mechanism, the articles may be thereafter dispensed succes sively and progressively from the plurality of compartments therein, each actuation-to progressively advance a compartment into registry with a door or delivery opening being controlled and permitted only when the proper coin is inserted in the common coin actuated mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described in which positive and eflective mechanism is provided to insure against more than one container at a time being thrown into operative relation to the coin controlled mechanism,

thereby insuring against delivery to the purchaser of more than the contents of a single compartment of one selected container.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means to prevent movement of .after set Serial No. 67,080.

any or all of the aligned containers both before and after a particular container has been selected by the purchaser, said locking means being automatically released to permit the discharge of the contents of a single compartment when the common coin controlled mechanism is actuated by the insertion of the proper coin.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic latch mechanism to maintain a single selected container in operative relation to the coin controlled mechanism until the latter has been actuated by the purchaser, said latch mechanism being automatically released to again permit the container selecting mechanism to be returned to normal inoperative position, by a reverse movement of the coin controlled handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine of the character described in which the operating mechanism is designed to selectively actuate a plurality of containers and to thereafter bring progressively into registration with a door aperture, articles carried by said selected container, the latter being capable of progressive movement vertically Or horizontally and from either direction as from right to left and vice versa with a horizontal container or upwardly or downwardly with respect to a vertically moved container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine in which a minimum of operating parts are required, said machine being economically manufactured and capable of being disposed against a wall to occupy a relatively small area, and which machine is simple in operation and may be conveniently operated by the purchaser, said machine being further of pleasing design, well proportioned in assembly and ornamental in appearance.

lVith such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinforth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing i from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompany- 33 of Fig. 1.

chine cabinet constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention and comprising a plurality of independently vertically slidable containers selectively actuated and controlled by a common coin control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating the mannerof selectively actuating any one of the slidable containers.

Fig. 6 is a still further enlarged detail view of certain of the structure illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the lockingmech'anism illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Y 7

Referring to the drawings, the vending machine comprises a cabinet structure constituted of side walls 1, top 2, bottom portion 3 and rear walls 4, the latter being provided with hinged doors 5 to permit the cabinet to be opened from the rear to'permit the machine to be assembled andto enable the several operat ing mechanismsthereof to be repaired or replaced. The oabinet further comprises a front wall 6 provided with a plurality of window apertures 7 preferably protected by a corresponding number of removable glass panels or other transparent closures8. The machine is further provided with a forwardly disposed storage portion 9. having a top or counter 10, hinged doors 11 and a plurality of article containing shelves or partitions 12 forming storage compartments for merchandise with which the machine may be restocked when the supply is diminished or sold out.

The main body portion of thecabinet machine is divided by vertically extending partition walls 13 into a plurality of longitudinal compartments for the reception of a corresponding number of vertically slidable articlecontainers 14. The latter have their side walls 14 mounted for vertical sliding movement within the cabinet on'tracks or guides 15, formed integrally with 'or sec'ured to the partition members 13. Each slidable container further comprises a series of preferably inclined shelves or partitions 16 forming therebetween a series of superposed article containing compartments each adapted to receive therein an article for sale and which is displayed to view through the transparent windows 8. In the embodiment illustrated five separate containers are provided each havinga plurality of article containing compartments there, and it is preferable that all of the articles in each slidable container be of the same character. The nature and origin of the articles carried by each container 14 may be indicated by means of independentv display compartments 17 disposed at the top of the machine cabinet and visible for display purposes through the transparent window or door aperture 18 in the front of' each compartment. As illustrated these display compartments are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and each is adapted to display an article duplicates of which are contained in the corresponding shelved container therebeneath to be dispensed by the machine.

Each top compartment 19 of the storag portion 9 of the machine is provided with, a

hinged door 20 preferably having a transparent panel 21 carried thereby each of said doors being free to be swung outwardly by means of its knob or handle 22. Each top compartment 19of the machine is further provided in its rear wall with a single-1111017 structed door aperture 23 designed to register successively and progressively with the re spective compartments formed by the shelves 15 of each slidable container 14. Each of the slidable containers 14 are provided at the rear of one of their side walls with a longitudinal vertically disposed rack member 24 rigidly secured to each container. A single horizontally disposed shaft 25 is provided, journaled in suitable bearings secured to the side walls of the cabinet structure. said shaft extending transversely of all of the slidable containers 14 of the machine. The shaft 25 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally slidable gears or pinions 26 having hub portions 27, the said gears being keye d as at 28 to said shaft but capable of limited longitudinal sliding movement on said shaft preferably within limits defined by said keys. The arrangement of shaft 25 and gears 26 is such that when the latter are moved longitudinally on the shaft the same are adapted to engage or disengage the teeth of the racks 24 on the slidable containers 14, to permit the latter to be moved downwardly one step under conditions to be described to register succeeding compartments of the container with. the door aperture 23 in the wall of the cabinet.

In order to selectively engage one of the gear wheels 26 with its respective rack to purchase the article in the container carrying said rack, mechanism isprovided for selectively engaging one gear only with its corresponding rack and on any desired container. A series of horizontally disposed reciprocating plungers 29 are provided having suitable.

, hub portion 27 of the gear ing normally held by bearings 30 in the front wall of the cabinet, said plungers being mediate portions and rear ends in the longitudinal partition walls 13. The plungers 29 are duplicates of one another and their manner of operation is the same in each instance. A description of the operation of one plunger will suffice fora complete understanding of the invention. The rear end of a plunger shaft 31 has pivotally secured thereto one arm 32 of a bell crank lever pivotally secured as at 33 to the bracket or ear 33 rigid on the frame of the machine. The other arm 34 of the bell crank lever is pivotally secured to the or pinion 26. second bracket 35 is secured to the machine frame and is provided with a recessed tubular portion 36' forming a bearing for the reciprocation therein of a locking pin or plunger 37 having one end pivotally secured as at 38 to the arm 32 of the bell crank lever. normal position of the machine with the gear 26 out of engagement with its rack 24, the free end of the plunger 37 is in engagement between the teeth of the rack 24 thereby preventing any vertical sliding movement of the article container 14 to which said rack is secured. The plunger rod has provided thereon intermediate its length a fixed collar member 39 and a coil spring 40 bearing against said collar and at is other end against the partition member 13 tends normally to maintain the plunger rod 31 and plunger in its uppermost position resulting in plunger pin 37 besaid spring in engagement with the rack teeth.

The position described is characteristic of all of the plungers 29 during the normal condition of the machine and all of the containers 14 are locked against'movement by means of the plungers 37 engaging the rack teeth of each container.

' The plungers 29 are preferably offset as indicated at 41 and are housed at their forward ends within a transversely extending recess 42 in the cabinet frame. The plungers are limited in their inward movement by the engagement of said offset portions 41 against the front wall 6 of the cabinet frame. A plurality of pear shaped locking detents 43 are pivotally mounted as at 44 to the frame within the transverse recess 42 in such manner as to be free for limited pivotal movement with respect to one another. The arrangement is such that when all of the plungers 29 are in their normal uppermost position the locking detent-s 43 engage at their. sides opposed recessed portions 45 in the plunger rods with slight clearance. therebetween. The sum total of the clearance between the detents and between the detents'and all of the plunger rods is such that when one of the plungers is pressed inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 5 to engage its pinion 26 with its corresponding rack 24, thelgmecesses 45 on the depressed journaled at their inter- In the i plunger rod are moved inwardly with a result that all of the detents are crowde against one another and against all of the recesses 45 of the remaining outwardly disposed plunger rods and there is not sufiicient clearance to permit a second plunger rod to be depressed due to he engagement of the detents with the recesses 45 in said rods. In other words it is only possible to depress one plunger rod at a time and the particular plunger depressed may be determined by the prospective purchaser. In this manner the machine is protected against pilfering by unauthorized or unscrupulous persons who might be permitted to depress all of the lungers, thereby engaging all of the gears 25 with their respective racks 24, and then actuating the machine by means of a coin and thus obtain an article from each container when the machine is actuated.

\Vhen one of the plungers 29 is depressed in the manner described it is necessary that the same be temporarily latched in its innermost position against the tension of the spring 40 and to enable the purchaser to direct his attention to the coin control to obtain an article from the container which he has selected. To this end each plunger rod 31 is provided with a notch 46 which when the plunger is pressed inwardly is engaged by the end of an offset lever 47 normally pressed against and riding upon the plunger rod 31 by means of a coil spring 48. The lever 47 is pivoted at 49 to an upstanding arm 50 of a bracket 51 suitably secured to each partition 13 of the cabinet. In this manner the depressed plunger 29 is maintained in its innermost position with its gear 26 meshing with the corresponding rack 24, by means of the engage-- ment of pivoted lever 47 with the notch 46 in said plunger. In order to release this latched engagement of the plunger when it is again desired to permit the same to be returned to its normal outer position by the compression of spring 40, the shaft 25 is provided with a transverse pin 52 which when the shaft is rotated in the proper direction engages the inner portion 53 of the pivoted latch lever 47 and lifts the latter from engagement with the notch 46 in the plunger, whereupon the spring 40 immediately tends to return the lever to its normal outermost position. This movement limited clearance between the detents 43 and any desired plunger may be thereafter-depressed with the described action ofthe mechanism again taking place.

After the prospective purchaser has depressed the desired plunger 29 and latched the same in innermost position with its gear engaged with rack 24 of the container as above described. be next inserts the proper coin in a slot 54 of the coin control housing 55 mounted on the side of the machine, thereby permitting the coin controlled handle 56 to be again results in operated and moved to the right in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The coin controlled handle 56 is secured 011 the outer end of an inwardly extendingshaft 57 having keyed on its inner end a pinion 58 meshing with a corresponding pinion 59 on one end of the longitudinally extending shaft 25. The coin control housing 55 is extended as at 60 to provide a protection closure for the intermeshing pinions 58 and 59. The rotation of shaft 57 to the right is transmitted through the described pinions to rotate shaft 25 forwardly toward'the purchaser and the pinion 26 keyed to said shaft and meshing with the rack 24: moves the selected container 14 downwardly one step, a distance determined by the extent of movement of the coin controlled handle 56 and which is suflicient to bring the succeeding article containing compartment of the container in registration with the door aperture 23,and the article contained therein slides by gravity into the compartment 19 within the forward portion of the cabinet where it is visible to the purchaser through the transparent door 21. The purchaser swings the door outwardly and removes the article from the compartment. I

In order to again operate the machine it may be necessary for the coin controlled handle to be operated in a reverse or counterclockwise direction, and this movement engages the end of the rod 52 with the lower side of the portion 53 of lever 47, thereby lifting said lever and permitting the depressed plunger to be returned to its normal outer portion as has been described, This movement renders thecoin mechanism in position to receive a succeeding coin by a subsequent purchaser who may select any desired compartment and operate the machine in accordance with the foregoing description.

Any suitable coin control may be utilized within the housing 55 and operated by handle 56 and shaft 57. For example, the coin control may be such as is fully described in my co-pendinganplication Serial No. 464,770. filed April 27, 1921, for coin controlled device. An examination of the coin controlled mechanism described in my said co-pending application will aid in a "complete, understanding of the'i present machine'and said other application is hereby made a part there- 'of so far as" it is necessary to the under standing and operation .of the invention here; in claimed. I

What I claim is t 1. In a coin controlledvending machine the combination of a cabinet having a plurality of door apertures therein, a plurality of containers having article-receiving compartments therein mounted for relative movement within said cabinet, means for moving a selected container to progressively align the article receiving pockets thereof with one of said door apertures, means for selectively engaging said containers with said container moving means, and means preventing the simultaneous engagement of more than one container with said container moving means. i

2. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of a cabinet having a plurality of door apertures therein, a plurality of containers having article-receiving compartments therein mounted for relative movement within said cabinet, means for moving a selected container to progressively partments therein mounted for vertical movement relative to said cabinet, means for moving said containers to progressively align the article receiving pockets of the selected container with one of said door apertures, spring controlled means for selectively engaging said containers with said container moving means, and means preventing the simultaneous engagement of more than one container with said container moving means.

4. In a coin controlled vending machine. the combination of a cabinet having a plu-- rality of door apertures therein, a plurality of containers having inclined article receiving compartments therein mounted for vertical movement relative tolsaid cabinet, a shaft and gearing carried thereby for moving said containers to progressively align the article receiving pockets of a selected container with one of said door apertures, a plurality of spring controlled'plungers for selectively engaging said containers with said gearing, and a plurality of detents preventing the simultaneous engagement of more than one container 'with said gearing, whereby the-articles of a singleselected container are progressively discharged by grav-' ity through one of said (1001' apertureson each actuation of a selected container.

5. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of a cabinet having a plurality'of ,door apertures, a plurality of containers having article receiving compartments therein mounted within said cabinet, a rack and 'pinion connection for moving a selected container to progressively align its compartments with said door apertures, a

humidity of plunger rods, one ofwh'ich may ewactuated for selectively, engaging a predetermined containerwith said rack and pincontainer to align the compartments thereof in succession with one of said door apertures, means for selectively gearing said containers with said container moving means, and means for maintaining a selected container in geared engagement with said container moving means.

7. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination of a cabinet having a 'plurality of door apertures, a plurality of con tainers having article receiving compartments therein mounted within said cabinet, means for progressively moving said containers to align said compartments with said door apertures, means for selectively engaging said contalners with said container moving means, means for holding a selected container in engagement with said container moving means, and means for disengaging said container holding means to permit said engaging means to be returned to normal inoperative position.

8. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination of a cabinet having a plurality of door apertures, a plurality of containers having inclined article receiving compartments therein mounted for vertical movement within said cabinet, means for vertically moving saidcontainers relative to said cabinet to progressively align said compartments with said door apertures, spring controlled means for selectively gearing said containers with said container moving means, latch mechanism for maintaining a selected container in geared engagement with said container moving means, and means for disengaging said latch mechanism to permit said container gearing means to be returned to normal inoperative position.

9. In a vending machine having coin controlled driving means, the combination of an enclosing cabinet, a series of vending receptacles relatively movable therein, means for normally holding said receptacles against .movement, driving mechanism for moving any selected receptacle, means for selectively engaging a receptacle with said driving mechanism, means for releasing a selected receptacle, and means for preventing more than a selected receptacle from being engaged by said driving means.

10. The combination of an enclosing cabinet, a series of vending receptacles movable relative thereto, said receptacles having a plurality of rigid inclined partition members forming spaced compartments therein, a plurality of door apertures in said cabinet relative to which said receptacles may be selectively and progressively positioned to render the contents of said compartments ac cessible through said apertur'e, means for selectively actuating said receptacles, and means for actuating a selected one of said receptacles, whereby the contents of the compartments of a selected receptacle are progressively discharged by gravity through said door apertures.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GOODWIN B. SMITH. 

